The Ferguson Police Department routinely violated the constitutional rights of the local African-American population in the Missouri city for years, the Department of Justice has found in a searing report.

The investigation, launched after the August shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, found that the department violated the Fourth Amendment in instances such as making traffic stops without reasonable suspicion and making arrests without probable cause.

The report provides direct evidence of racial bias among police officers and court workers, and details a criminal justice system that through the issuance of petty citations for infractions such as walking in the middle of the street, prioritizes generating revenue from fines over public safety.

Brown family attorney Ben Crump said “If the report of the Department of Justice findings is accurate, then it will confirm what Michael Brown’s family has believed all along, and that is that the tragic killing of their unarmed teenage son was part of a systemic pattern of policing of African-American citizens in Ferguson."

"Today, City of Ferguson officials met with the Department of Justice, to receive the report concerning the outcome of their investigation of the Ferguson Police Department.

"Ferguson Mayor James Knowles III, City Manager John Shaw, Police Chief Tom Jackson and City Attorney Stephanie Karr, were present in the meeting today in downtown St. Louis.

"City Officials were told by the Department of Justice that the report would not be released to the media or to the public until Wednesday afternoon, March 4, 2015. At this time, the City is currently reviewing the report and its findings. The City will release an official statement in a press conference on Wednesday, March 4, 2015.

"The time of the press conference will be announced following the official announcement from the Department of Justice," the City of Ferguson said in a statement.